Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-24
THE FLIGHT OF BIRD S.

To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR:
An article In The STAR OF Tuesday called for the
observation OF IT. readers on the "nght OF birds
the object OF which. j suppose, Is to obtain more
data on their migratory habits. I am a great
lover OF the "feathered tribe, have good ear for
sounds know the notes of all OF our birds OF the
Middle States, and am glad OF the opportunity Of
about two years ago. The ".ink,' "nnk" is un-
dOubr edly the note OF the reed birds / remember
lights OF the city. they flew over and around the
house slept in for hours, and some OF them Lit In
a tree In the back yard-appareniy from exhaus-
ton. 1t was late In the spring, when they were
note OF the rail or sora-caled In the District out
.c1,ere csc, .'ortoIan'-the European represen-
short, feeble flight OF the rail on
the marshes has led people to suppose
all sorts or absurd stories told of their disap-
pearance latter the first frost" Their ability 10
make long flights Is proved by the TACT that they
have aIghted upon SHIPS at sea and islands in
great NUMBERS II they could attain the supper
current" that Donaldson wanted to utilize with
his balloon, their flight could be made In a Few
hours. belivee that they can and do The reply
OF 1.-The hunter In East Washington was right
Its the reed birds dying over so high you
robins, should say, make short, low flights, and
rest frequently on their journeys. Others, like
tervals. That some Oh them attain, and get the
assistance OF the upper currents / firmly
believe from the following observations
Two years ago visited Easton, Talbot County,
Md. There mad been good "bull-bat' shooting In q
meadow On the skirts OF the town Tor five six
days, and some friends OF mine prevailed upon me
10 80 Out. saying that these birds had been col.
Letting from every direction to this point for Seve
raj days. Arriving on the field we were met by
nse or SIX gunners- The bats were lying, TO the
number OF TWO or three hundred, but SO high that
none OF our guns could bring them down. Some
OF us sat upon fence and waited patiently Tor
them TO fly lower, on the approach OF night. In
Sltdu Oh lulS they went llguer ana higher. All
niSt they circied over about 100 acres. As they
assembled the circle was gradually contracted until
zenith directly overhead, and In q few min
uteS were out OF sight. The sun was setting,
from our point OF view, bet not from theirs:
the afternoon still perfectly clear. We were ali
amazed at the manner OF their disappearance
ana remarked that this was evidently their first
step toward migrating: The next day we did not
find one there. nor did j See during my stay, a
single bull bat, martin or swallow. 1t was near
the end OF september. All birds that flock In the
fall have migration in view. AS q countryman
once said TO me, 'they meetin', sir 10 talk iJ
over and elect leaders. Them old birds know
when to &C.," Believing that IT Is experience and
not instinct that guides them, can't some suggest
plot for the English SparrOwS. They are flock
Ing now, and evidently have tine migratory lever
and would go IL only shown the way. A. T. G.
BIRD CALLS AT NIGHT-PRoBABLY AS MANY IN TIE
DAYTIME DROWNED BY CITY NOISES.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
Wednesday night could hardly detect the notes
OF passing birds. Thursday night had occasion
TO be ut the city post-ofce little after 10 O'Clock
and In that vicinity heard birds plainly. Till 1
retired, an hour later, the birds could be heard
constantly. was awake at yesterday morning
and could hear steady succession or bird-calIs,
until the misty rain grew heavy and "the patter
OF the ralndrops on the roOr' overwhelmed the
sounds and lulled me TO sleep again. As the birds
usually uttered at once but single chlrp or peep
IL was matter OF difficulty to identify them. even
where their customary song might be familiar.
The faint list may he made by various small
I'D fAnl1 Ia. Il
sure heard once the notes which the pretty finch
that children call canary, account OF its sem
oiance 10 one, makes In Hight song. Stray ones
are TO be eating thistle seeds In our vicinity
The pewee or some bird that has wOndrously
similar cali. was an occasional passer There
notes suggestive Oh piovers, martins, and swal-
lows. One could distinguish possibly a dozen Diff
ferent Calls, from the faint list 10 loud chirp re-
seubling that which young chicken indkes when
IL nnd5 itself separated from its fellows The
principal flight was south. Far more could be
heard In position open east and west than in one
Ike d north and south street. Have weather con-
ditlonS any direct bearing? Wednesday night
clear and starlight, when listened, almost vainly
would certainly not make our city IL hts prOmi-
nent as the reflections from haze and cloud Of
other nights when birds flew aDundantly They
could be heard last Crhursday) nj Mt Till the storm
made too much noise 10 distinguish bird notes,
and again when, near day, the storm had passed.
A friend says he heard the reed birds flying over
Iowa Circle Wednesday niXnt, between 8 ard 9
o'clock. Last night friday, between street ana
the adjacent luinDer Yard. heard birtis in flight
at O'Clock. AT 1890 they were flying thlckly
east OF the Patent Office. Waking al 80 this
morning, and with far less window space open
than on the warmer nights preceding, and with
much more noise or w1ud, heard BIRDS II any
tning, III greater numbers than before, and on GO
Ing 10 the window could h"ar some notes not per-
ceived on other nights. This note ends the O6ser-
yatl0ns OF one Individual Tor five NIGHTS, and is
extremely suggestive OF the great activity around
Us and Out OF our usual notice, Especially II we
suppose that the birds were equally abundant and
active While the street noises overwhelmed their
CHIPPING. hope others Will furnish memoranda
OF their observations. B.
WASHINGTON, b. L., Sept. "a, 1887.